RALEIGH, N.C. (Feb. 16) – Tyre Gathright (Sr./Wilmington, NC) scored 19 points and Donte Edwards (Fr./Durham, NC) added 18 points for Saint Augustine's University, but the Falcons allowed a double-digit halftime lead to slip away in the second half for a 76-68 CIAA men's basketball loss to crosstown rival Shaw University at packed Emery Gymnasium on Saturday.
Jalen Gaddy (Jr./Raleigh, NC) registered 13 points and guard Craig McDaniel (Sr./Holly Springs, NC) posted a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds for the Falcons, who led 41-29 at halftime. Edwards sparked the Falcons in the first half with 15 points on 5 of 5 three-point shooting including a 40-footer to beat the first-half buzzer.
But the Bears outscored the Falcons 47-27 in the second half to get the win. After trailing by 13 early in the half, the Bears rallied to tie the score at 59-59 with 7:24 remaining. The Bears outscored the Falcons 17-9 the rest of the way.
The loss prevented the Falcons from sweeping the Bears since 2016. The Falcons won the first meeting 76-74 at Spaulding Gymnasium on Jan. 26, 2019.
On Saturday, the Falcons made 11 of 22 three-pointers for 50 percent but were 3 of 12 from three-point land in the second half. They shot 40.7 percent overall including 34.5 percent in the second half after making 46.7 percent of their shots in the first half. The Falcons scored 22 points in the paint.
The Bears shot 47.3 percent for the contest including 55.2 percent in the second half after shooting 38.5 percent in the first half. They connected on 9 of 17 three-pointers for 52.9 percent in addition to scoring 26 points in the paint and 24 points off turnovers. They outscored the Falcons 40-18 in bench points.
Derrick Randolph led four double-figure Shaw scorers with 20 points, including 15 in the second half. Geremy Taylor added 13 points for the Bears, who played without NCAA Division II leading scorer Amir Hinton. DaVaughn Kelsie and Davon Dillard each scored 11 points for the Bears (7-3 Southern Division, 13-12 overall).
Two games remain in the regular season for the Falcons (3-7 Southern Division, 8-16 overall), who visit Livingstone College in Salisbury, N.C., on Wednesday, Feb. 20. Game time is 7:30 p.m.
